JICA marks 55 years of volunteerism in Nepal

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 13: The JICA Nepal Office recently organised a joint gathering titled “Cross-National Volunteer Synergy: Enhancing Impact in Nepal" bringing together nearly 100 representatives and volunteers from various international Volunteer Sending Agencies (VSA) to strengthen collaboration and maximise grassroots development efforts in Nepal.

The event aimed to bring together not only VSA representatives but also volunteers from different organisations, creating a space to share field experiences, exchange ideas, and discuss common challenges faced during assignments in Nepal, along with practical strategies to overcome them, according to a press statement of JICA Nepal Office.

The programme featured presentations by volunteers from various organizations highlighting their ongoing work in Nepal. In addition, group discussions were facilitated among volunteers with a particular focus on field-based activities and shared learning across sectors.

The event welcomed nearly 100 participants representing a wide range of VSA organisations, including the Australian Volunteers Programme (AVP), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Peace Corps, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), as well as representatives from media houses and JICA officials.

Volunteer Sending Agencies (VSA), united by the shared mission of deploying volunteers to Nepal and contributing to the country’s development through grassroots-level engagement, have been convening regularly for more than three decades. 

On the occasion, Matsuzaki Mizuki, Chief Representative of JICA Nepal, said, “We witnessed truly engaging and impressive presentations from volunteers representing various organizations today. I was delighted to see the depth of their work and the meaningful efforts they are making to create positive change in Nepal.”

Troy Kofroth, Country Director, Peace Corps, stated, “It was a great way to build synergy among the volunteer agencies here in Nepal, and I hope to see a lot of positive collaboration coming out of it.”

Mooheon Kong, Country Director, KOICA Nepal, expressed his sincere appreciation to the JICA Nepal Office for organizing the event, which successfully brought together volunteers from diverse walks of life under one roof. 

He said that such a gathering stands as a testament to inclusive and sustainable efforts in Nepal, strengthened by the spirit of solidarity and collaboration among all participating agencies.

Overall, the event successfully strengthened connections among volunteers of diverse nationalities working across Nepal, promoted collaboration among VSA, and contributed to maximising the collective impact of volunteer efforts in the country.

On the 55th anniversary of JICA’s Volunteer Programme in Nepal, JICA shared the history and key milestones of its volunteer engagement with VSA stakeholders.

Founded in 1965, the JICA Volunteer Programme enables Japanese volunteers to work alongside local communities, contributing to socioeconomic development through the effective use of their skills and experiences. 

Volunteers live and work closely with local people in their host communities, allowing them to identify development needs from the grassroots perspective while promoting mutual understanding and friendship between Nepal and Japan.

The first JICA volunteers were dispatched to Nepal in September 1970. Since then, their activities have expanded across a wide range of sectors and sub-sectors, including agriculture, health, education, forestry and fisheries, repair operations, civil engineering, sanitation, sports, culture, as well as planning and administration. 

The JICA Volunteer Programme in Nepal remains committed to sharing knowledge, skills, and technology at the grassroots level through a “Learning by Doing” approach, supporting Nepal’s nation-building efforts.

To date, a total of 1,480 volunteers (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and Senior Volunteers) have contributed to Nepal’s development over the past 55 years, leaving a lasting impact on communities across the country.